GUT CONNECT 365 OVERVIEW: Gut Connect 365 is a nine ingredient supplement that claims to nourish and protect the gut lining. If you’re someone who’s experiencing symptoms of leaky guy syndrome and wanting to try a supplement then this article should be useful for you.
IN THIS ARTICLE: We’ve analysed GutConnect 365 by United Naturals to see if the ingredients will really work to repair and strengthen the gut lining. Read on to find out if it might be able to help you.
What is Leaky Gut?
Leaky gut syndrome is a condition that affects your intestinal lining. A healthy lining acts as a barrier between your intestines and your bloodstream, keeping the two separated and only allowing water and nutrients into your blood. However, if you’re experiencing leaky gut this means there may be holes or cracks forming in your gut lining, allowing toxins, bacteria, food and other harmful organisms through to wreak all kinds of havoc. These are some of the symptoms you may experience:
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Inflammation
- Chronic diarrhea or constipation
- Bloating and gas
- More serious conditions like arthritis, asthma, type 1 diabetes and more
Although it’s not clear in the world of medical research whether leaky gut syndrome is more of a symptom of other diseases or an actual condition in itself, many experts say that leaky gut can contribute to diabetes, Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and more.
As for the exact cause of leaky gut, this is still unclear, but it’s believed that a mix of alcohol consumption, certain medications, stress and a diet that’s high in processed foods and low in fibre are the biggest contributors. So, whilst it’s important to find a product that can support your gut, it’s also essential to examine your daily lifestyle and make positive changes that will give your gut the best environment in which to heal and thrive.
How GutConnect 365 works
Now we know exactly what leaky gut is and how it can affect the body, let’s take a look at a product from a company who claim they can support your gut health to combat this condition. The company in question, United Naturals, is based in the USA and aims to supplement your health the way ‘nature intended’. They do this by sourcing the best pure ingredients from around the world and ensuring all their products are thoroughly tested to comply with their high standards before releasing them to their customers.
The product we’re going to be analysing is GutConnect 365, a powdered gut support supplement made up of a proprietary blend of 9 superfoods with natural flavours and Stevia Leaf Extract for added sweetness. United Naturals believes that if you have 1 scoop each day of their vanilla-cinnamon flavoured powder with water then you will feel these benefits:
- More energy/less fatigue
- Elevated and steadier mood
- Improved sleep
- Less digestive issues
- Better weight management
Active ingredients in GutConnect 365
Okay, now that bit is out of the way, let’s get into the juicy stuff! We’ve listed all of GutConnect 365’s active ingredients below and explained some of the medical research behind each so we can see if it’s actually going to benefit your gut health or not.
L-Glutamine – 5000mg
This is a powerful amino acid, which means it’s the building block of proteins and, as such, is most likely going to be the most effective ingredient for gut health in this list.
Supplementing with glutamine has been shown to support gastrointestinal mucosal growth and prevent the mucosal lining from breaking down over the years by supporting the creation of proteins in the body. This process encourages healthy cell regeneration which allows the cells in your gut lining to renew every 4-5 days, keeping it strong even during times of stress, trauma and even radiation treatment that would otherwise negatively affect the body’s ability to maintain a healthy mucosa in the gut lining.
The above effects indicate that L-Glutamine will be able to assist with improving your gut lining, however, more research is still needed to confirm if it’s specifically effective for leaky gut.
Quercetin Dihydrate – 500mg
A powerful and long-lasting antioxidant, this ingredient has the ability to reduce oxidative stress on your cells that would otherwise cause premature deterioration which can lead to a variety of diseases as you age. In addition to this, Quercetin has been shown to support specific cells in the gut that usually cause increased permeability. These are called ‘mast’ cells and when unsupported they become unstabilised, releasing histamines into the bloodstream which are chemicals that cause allergy symptoms.
It’s also thought that this ingredient may have a positive effect on the intestinal barrier function in as little as 6 hours, assisting with fast relief of gut related issues and making it a great choice to add to GutConnect 365.
Slippery Elm Bark – 150mg
This ingredient comes from the bark of an endangered plant, ulmus rubra, that has been used in traditional gastrointestinal medicine across the US for centuries due to its inherent anti-inflammatory ability to soften and protect the mucous lining of the gut, treat hyperacidity and ulcerative conditions.
Slippery elm can also be combined with other soothing ingredients like marshmallow root and aloe vera to capitalise on its effects, relieving irritation and calming the gut lining.
Organic Marshmallow Root – 150mg
Speaking of marshmallow root, United Naturals have cleverly decided to add this ingredient to Gut Connect 365 possibly due to its high mucilage content, meaning that it contains a certain helpful substance produced by plants. This substance is thick and gluey, able to form a protective film over your gut lining acting as reinforcement to soothe it from irritation. This protective film is known to be effective on symptoms of gut inflammation like diarrhea and ulcers.
Unfortunately, there isn’t extensive medical research on the effects of this ingredient on the gut but all initial studies have shown possible positive benefits that make it a great candidate to include in this product.
N-Acetyl Glucosamine (NAG) – 150mg
NAG is a simple sugar that’s found in the shells of crustaceans and has long been used mostly for degenerative conditions that affect the joints, like osteoarthritis.
In the gut, however, it has been shown that NAG prevents biofilm formation on E.coli. E.coli is a bacteria you may have heard of as being notorious for causing diarrhea, cramping and sometimes vomiting in the worst cases. By preventing this biofilm from forming on the E.coli, NAG effectively exposes this bacteria to the mercy of our immune systems which will prevent it from colonising the gut and reduce its harmful effects.
Again, there isn’t a lot of research into NAG’s effects on the gut but one study we found suggested that it could reduce the severity and recurrence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) due to anti-inflammatory properties.
Licorice root extract (deglycyrrhizinated) – 150mg
Deglycyrrhizinated licorice has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that are useful throughout the body. In the gut specifically though, it may be able to increase mucus production which would support the gut lining and reduce irritation that is generally experienced with leaky gut syndrome.
‘Deglycyrrhizinated’ simply means that the compound ‘glycyrrhizin’ has been removed from the licorice root extract, making it safe for human consumption.
Aloe Vera Extract – 50mg
Everyone knows about the soothing superpowers aloe vera possesses, and the benefits can even be felt in the gut. It’s been known to influence mast cells to reduce the production of histamines, increase water content in the gut to alleviate constipation symptoms and has even been shown in one study as a safe and effective treatment to ease IBS symptoms.
It’s a powerhouse ingredient and it absolutely makes sense to include it in this product.
Maitake Mushroom Extract – 30mg
Rich in antioxidants, fibre, potassium, amino acids and more, the maitake mushroom has been shown to have powerful immune-stimulating properties and the ability to decrease the prevalence of viral infections in the body. It’s packed full of vitamins and minerals which is always a positive, however, there isn’t an abundance of medical research currently available to specify the effect on the symptoms of leaky gut or gut health overall.
Zinc Orotate – 20mg
This is one of the most common forms of zinc on the health market right now that’s naturally found in foods like poultry, red meat, beans and nuts. Inside the gut lining, it supports your cells and immune response, and can even boost the effectiveness of Quercetin Dihydrate, which we discussed earlier. This is a great ingredient to include in GutConnect 365 and can help to avoid a zinc deficiency which could otherwise result in loss of appetite or taste, diarrhea and hair loss.
Other ingredients
Let’s not forget about the extra ingredients in GutConnect 365, here’s a quick rundown on what they are and their purpose in the product:
- Natural Flavors – This is how GutConnect 365 gets its vanilla-cinnamon taste. This is totally natural and nothing to be concerned about unless the flavour isn’t your thing personally.
- MCT Oil Powder – This oil powder is generally extracted from coconuts and is included in this product to improve the blendability of the drink, but also has the effect of promoting weight loss as well.
- Rebaudioside A (Stevia Leaf Extract) – This is a sweetener that has been shown to have positive effects on cholesterol and blood sugar. It’s used in this product to make it a bit sweeter as it’s around 200 times sweeter than white sugar. It carries almost zero calories and current research suggests that it’s safe to consume.
Allergen info – Contains tree nuts.
Pricing and returns
1 jar of GutConnect 365 will last around a month if you’re having the recommended 1 scoop daily mixed into a glass of water. They do offer discounts if you buy in bulk, however, the product is still on the more expensive side of the market. Here’s the breakdown below:
- 1 jar – $54
- 3 jars – $134 ($44.66 each)
- 6 jars – $244 ($40.66 each)
If you’re not satisfied with GutConnect 365, United Naturals will give you a refund within 60 days from the date of your purchase. It’s a bit complicated but you can return up to 2 empty containers of the product however, any additional jars must be sealed or they won’t offer you the refund on them. United Naturals also doesn’t cover the return shipping costs, which is pretty standard.
Summary of GutConnect 365
Leaky gut syndrome can be an extremely frustrating and uncomfortable condition, with many doctors unsure why it happens and how to cure it exactly. GutConnect 365 offers a product with some excellent ingredients for supporting and reinforcing your gut lining, from the mucosal membranes to the actual cells within your gut wall. It should work to decrease permeability and cells that cause allergic reactions, inhibit harmful bacteria and even form a protective mucous barrier to allow the gut to heal itself.
Whilst expensive, GutConnect 365 carries a 60-day money back guarantee, is sustainably sourced and manufactured, has a pleasant vanilla-cinnamon taste and a bunch of quality ingredients that we believe support its price tag. United Naturals believes this product will ‘soothe, nourish, strengthen and protect the gut lining’ to promote overall health and wellness. If you’re someone suffering from fatigue, mood swings, digestive issues, poor sleep and weight management then this may be the right product to get you back on track to feeling yourself.
As with all new supplements, we’d recommend consulting a doctor before use to make sure it’s safe for you to consume with your specific set of health needs.
